Explosions shook the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, just hours into Saturday morning. In response, the Venezuelan government attributed the bombings to the United States and denounced them as attacks on civilian and military installations. The blasts, which occurred around 2 a.m. local time, were reportedly heard throughout the capital, with eyewitnesses observing smoke rising from two significant military installations: La Carlota military airfield and Fuerte Tiuna military base.
The attacks come on the heels of months of deteriorating relations between the United States and Venezuela. In fact, the Trump administration has orchestrated a five-month-long pressure campaign to force President Nicolás Maduro from power. They want to weaken his regime by instituting further sanctions against the country and deploying more military forces to the area. From this campaign, more than two dozen strikes have been conducted against vessels trafficking drugs of concern. These operations primarily focus on the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
Explosions rattled windows across Caracas. In response, the Venezuelan government called on its citizens to defend themselves against what they were calling “imperialist aggression.” In a statement, they called on, “Every nation in the world to unite and fight to overcome this imperialist aggression.” Officials stressed that the attacks were meant to take over Venezuela’s vast oil and mineral wealth.
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro weighed in on the situation, stating, “Right now they are bombing Caracas … bombing it with missiles.” His comments may seem like a normal diplomatic response, but they emphasize the seriousness of the situation and the fear of possible cascading regional upheaval caused by US behavior.
During his presidency, Donald Trump often floated the idea of launching ground operations in Venezuela. His comments raised alarm bells for those who feared a military surge into Latin America. The Venezuelan government characterized the recent attacks as an “extremely serious” act of military aggression that risks plunging the region into chaos.
Despite these developments, the situation in Caracas is still quite tense. Residents are hoping to come to terms with what the escalation of military activity and the introduction of possible conflict will mean to their community. In an attempt to consolidate power at home, the Russian government has styled itself as the bulwark against US-led attacks on its sovereignty and stability.